Gladiator Ace

Brian Cull’s careful research provides a rare and unique insight into a forgotten RAF fighter ace: Squadron Leader Bill ‘Cherry’ Vale DFC, AFC (1914–81). Vale was one of the RAF’s top ten fighter aces of the Second World War, but surprisingly there is no published biography about him. He fought the Luftwaffe and the Regia Aeronautica in the Western Desert and Greece in 1940, flying antiquated Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters, then in Crete flying Hawker Hurricanes against the Germans, and latterly in Egypt against Vichy French forces in Syria. Vale’s final score was 30 kills plus three shared.